Category: Bible Study

Question: Should Women Teach in Church?

Question: Should Women Teach in Church?

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Should women teach in church? A friend of mine was invited to a church. She loved the teaching, felt like she was growing as a believer and in her relationship with God. She saw that the people there were loving and kind. It was a great community. She shared her joy with a friend who then immediately shut her down and told her she needed to stop going. Her reasoning? The pastor of that church was a woman and, according to my friend’s acquaintance, that was unbiblical and a sin before God. I watched my friend’s joy fade to uncertainty and eventually she just stopped going. Better to be safe than to perhaps participate in unrighteousness right?

If you have been in the church for a while, or if like me you were raised in the faith, then you have probably heard of the controversy surrounding women holding leadership roles over men. Believers are very divided on this issue and the more conservative among us are staunch in the belief that women simply should not teach. I’ve heard all kinds of logic about this.

Growing up I was told that women have to submit to men (especially their husbands) so they can’t go around being in leadership over them. I heard that women are too emotional to be in any position of leadership. They just aren’t cut out to be the cool-headed leaders that men can be. I’ve heard that Apostle Paul said women must not speak in the church. The biological and philosophical arguments behind this I choose not to address. You need to work that out for yourself. But since I am a believer, I am interested in what the Bible has to say about it. Let’s take a look.

Should Women Teach in Church

Biblical restrictions against women speaking in the church

The main passages cited in opposition to women being allowed to teach is in 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 and 1 Timothy 2:11-12. What do those verses say?

Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church. (1 Corinthians 14:34-35).

A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. (1Timothy 2:11-12)

Alright, two verses in the Bible saying practically the same thing. Case closed. Women should shut their mouths in spiritual matters involving the church as a whole or at least when men are present. “Should women teach in church?” Okay, but then I have a few questions as well.

Bible's verses say women need not enter spiritual matters.

Apostle Paul’s other words regarding women

Apostle Paul told Timothy in the next verse that “women will be saved through childbearing” (1 Tim 2:13). But everybody knows that Apostle Paul was an advocate for singleness (1 Cor 7). Shoot, then women are screwed either way if the men really follow Paul’s words. Thankfully most conservative Christians just ignore this chapter and focus on 1 Cor 14 instead. Saved.

If we are going to follow Paul’s guidance for women in regards to teaching literally and strictly, then women better apply all of his advice. What else does he say? Women should “dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes” (1 Tim 2:9).

Hmm, that’s interesting. What is an “elaborate hairstyle?” According to other translations of the Bible it is specified as “braided hair.” Now that’s odd, because I have gone to a lot of traditional churches that denounce women pastors but whose female congregation wears their long hair in braids. Equally, it is odd because I have seen so many churches have a culture that emphasizes buying fancy (and often expensive) “Sunday dresses,” especially around Easter. In 1 Corinthians 11, Paul also tells us that women should cover their heads when they pray or prophesy. I don’t see that being equally applied either.

Braided style of hair is known as elaborate style of hair.

Are there women leaders in the Bible?

Remember that pesky Judge Deborah in the Old Testament? How did she squeeze into that leadership role among the men? Did God make a mistake? If we read the book of Judges we can see that not only did Deborah (who was married) speak on behalf of God, delivering his message and speaking his prophecies for the future, but she also judged over all Israel (Jgs 4:4-5). Gasp! You mean men too? Yes. Oddly enough, Barak, the male leader she gave God’s direction to, didn’t seem to doubt her words because of her gender. This should be quite interesting to those asking “should women teach in church.”

Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. (Judges 4:14)

Now that’s odd. So God was okay with having a woman deliver his message in the Old Testament but not in the New Testament?

What is the context of Apostle Paul’s letters?

Apostle Paul words are: Women go from house to house and become idlers.

Before you assume that I am advocating that we just throw away the words of Apostle Paul, let’s take a look at the situation of the church he was writing to. Let’s see what some of the women of the church were doing in 1 Timothy 5:13-15:

Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also busybodies who talk nonsense, saying things they ought not to. So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no opportunity for slander. Some have in fact already turned away to follow Satan.

Furthermore, within this church there are false doctrines that are being taught by people who are desiring to be teachers but who don’t know what they are talking about (1 Tim 1:3-7). Paul goes on to specifically point out that Eve was the one who was deceived first in the face of lies (1 Tim 2:13-14). Similarly in 1 Corinthians 1, there are divisions going on in the church. It does not specify if these divisions and false teachings were caused by women or men. They could be from either or both, but it’s important to consider in light of his strictures against women speaking in the church.

So, what should we do? Ignore Apostle Paul’s words in support of feminism? Become fundamentalist Christians whose women wear only hand-sewn garments and silently go about in head coverings? Or judge whether or not I should accept the message spoken by a woman the same way I should judge the message spoken by a man? With the Bible and truth as the standard?

In Bible, women are referred in many places as prophetesses.

So, Should Women Teach in Church?

Women are mentioned in several places in the Bible in the role of prophetesses. How do we judge if a prophet’s words are true or not? In Deuteronomy 18:22, we are told to test if that prophet’s words come true. Is what they are saying aligned with truth and reality? Truth according to the Bible is the Word of God (John 17:17). If someone, anyone, whether they be man, woman, or animal, is sent by God to speak his Word of truth, then a believer better stand up and listen. In Numbers 22 whose mouth does God open to speak? A donkey’s. What was that donkey doing? Saving his rider from certain death at the hand of God’s angel!

When I asked my friend if she had found anything to be unbiblical or false within the teaching of that female pastor, she said she hadn’t. In fact, she felt like she was finally coming to know God’s will for her within the Bible and was understanding the deeper contents and messages that had always been a mystery to her. Correct understanding is something that can only happen if the spirit of God is present and working through that speaker (1 Cor 2:11-13). John tells us to test the spirits working within our teachers, not by their gender but by their words (1 John 4:1-6). Man looks at the outer appearance but God looks at the heart.

You may choose to reject the message of God if you want to because you don’t like the one speaking it. People rejected the prophets and Jesus too for the same reason. For myself, I will test the words that are spoken. If it is the truth coming from the Holy Spirit, I will listen no matter who is speaking, even if it is a donkey, or worse, a woman. So, should women teach in church? I hope this has been a meaningful article exploring the question and that through it we can all grow in faith.

Who was Moses and What was the Exodus?

Who was Moses and What was the Exodus?

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Moses: A Character Profile

who was Moses - Egypt

Upbringing

Moses was the son of Amram from the tribe of Levi. He was born in Egypt during a time when the Hebrew population boomed, which did not please the Pharaoh of Egypt (Exodus 1:12). Thus, Pharaoh of Egypt commanded all newborn Israelite boys to be murdered. For this reason, Moses was sent in a basket down the Nile River.

Pharaoh’s daughter finds him and raises him, and he lives happily as an Egyptian until he kills an overseer who he sees abusing an Israelite. He then flees to Midian, where he marries Zipporah and lives as a shepherd until God appears before him in the form of a burning bush, ordering him to return to Egypt to free the Israelites.

Moses was a newborn Israelite boy.

The Exodus from Egypt

Moses, obedient to God’s command, returned to Egypt and with his older brother Aaron. They went before Pharaoh and asked him to let the Hebrew people leave so they might go and worship God. However, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened and he refused. Therefore, one by one, the 10 plagues were sent upon Egypt.

Before the final plague, based on God’s command, Moses warned the Hebrews to kill a lamb and spread its blood over the door post. That night the Angel of the Lord passed over Egypt and killed all the firstborn sons, but he did not enter any house with blood on the door post.

Through this, Pharaoh finally let the people go. The Israelites left the next day, but Pharaoh changed his mind and sent his army to pursue them. God then commanded Moses to use his staff to part the Red Sea so that they may pass through it to safety and drowned the Egyptian army behind them. This event of their escape from Egypt is known as The Exodus.

Moses selfie

The Covenant with Israel

Now having crossed the Red Sea, the Israelites began their journey to the Promised Land. During this time Moses was commanded to go up to Mount Sinai to receive commands from God. God gave him the Law and instructions for how to build the tabernacle as a place where the people could come to worship God as His spirit dwelled with them. Moses was God’s mouthpiece for His people and continued to lead the Israelites.

Moses was provided with Law and instructions to build tabernacle.

The Israelites Built a Golden Calf

While Moses was on a mountain receiving commandments from God, the Israelites feared he would not return. As a result, his brother Aaron made a golden calf to symbolize God’s presence, and the people started worshiping this — breaking the covenant they made with God.

Death of Moses

Death of Moses

For 40 years Moses led the Israelites. Moses and the Israelites do not reach Israel until they have wandered in the desert for a generation. However, he died at the age of 120 years before being able to enter the promised land. While Moses is mentioned various times throughout the rest of biblical history, there is one moment where he appears again in Mark 9:2-8 where Moses and Elijah appear and talk with Jesus when He is transfigured before Peter, James, and John. To this day, Moses is one of the most recognizable characters in the Bible and in history, famous for his enduring faith, humility, and obedience.

What We Can Learn from Gideon’s 300

What We Can Learn from Gideon’s 300

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Have you ever heard of Gideon and the 300 men who saved the Israelites from the hands of the Midianites? Have you ever wondered why there were only 300 or how the process of choosing them go? Was it through boot camp? Or a battle of strengths? Let’s take a look at the story of Gideon’s 300.

Who was Gideon, and why was he chosen?

For a span of 7 years, Israel was oppressed and invaded by the Midianites, Amalekites and other eastern peoples (Nations who did not belong to God). This was due to their betrayal against God by worshipping the gods of the Amorites even when He had commanded them not to do so in Ex 20:3-6. The Israelites were impoverished by the Midianites that they cried out for help from God. Thus, God had chosen him, son of Joash the Abiezrite from the tribe of Manasseh, as a judge to save the people of Israel from the hands of the Midianites. 

Angels appear to Gideon

When he was chosen by God, he asked God for signs to prove that it was really Him speaking to Gideon.

First, through the meat and unleavened bread he prepared, God proved Himself by having His angel set the meat and bread on fire by just touching them with the tip of the staff in his hand.

Second, he placed a wool fleece on the threshing floor. He said that if there was dew only on the fleece and all the ground was dry, then he will know that God would really be with him to save Israel from the Midianites. The next day, God did so.

Lastly, he asked for one more request and this time, it was to make the fleece dry but have all the ground covered in dew. That night, God once again proved Himself to Gideon.

Through that, he was finally able to trust that God will really use him to defeat the Midianites and bring victory to Israel.

Why were only 300 people chosen?

Gideon and his 300 men

When all of his men were gathered and camped at the spring of Harod, there were originally 32,000 men. God said Gideon had too many men for Him to deliver Midian into their hands. At that time, the Israelites were worshipping the gods of the Amorites and had forgotten about Him already. Thus, God did not want Israel to think they defeated the Midianites because of their own strength but to know that it was through God that they were victorious. And so, the process of choosing the 300 people began.

Choosing the Three Hundred

God helped Gideon to choose his 300 men

To begin with the selection of the people who will be part of his army, God told Gideon to announce to the people that whoever trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead. With this command, 22,000 people left leaving 10,000 people in his army.

Even with 22,000 people leaving, God still said there were too many men. Thus, He told Gideon to take the men to the water where God will be sifting them. God said, “Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.” (New International Version, Judges 7.5). The 300 men who lapped water with their hands to their mouths were the ones chosen as Gideon’s 300.

Through Gideon and the 300 men, God was able to save the Israelites from the Midianites which brought peace to Israel for 40 years.